Machine for making and inserting wire devices



E. CRAIG Sept. 3, 1929.

MACHINE FOR MAKING AND INSERTING WIRE DEVICES Filed Jan. 14, 1924 4Sheets-Sheet 1 Sept. 3, 1929. E, CRAIG 1,726,528

MACHINE FOR MAKING AND INSERTING WIRE DEVICES Filed Jan. 14, 1924 4Sheets-Sheet 2 u ,www

Sept. 3, 1929. E, CRAlG 1,726,528

MACHINE FOR MAKING AND INSERTING WIRE DEVICES Filed Jan. 14. 19244shee's-sneet' 3 Sept. 3, 1929.

Ei clmlcay MACHINE FOR MAKING AND INSERTING WIRE DEVICES 4 sheets-sheet4 Fliled Jan. 14, 1924 -l'aliwaffd Upa@ i as a handle like device, s'othat these devices,

UNITED .STATES APfrila'l* OFFICE EDWARD CRAIG, 0F ST. JOSEPH, )MIGHIGANASSIGNOR NTO SARANAC AUTOMATIC MACHINE CORPORATION, OF BENTON HARBOR,MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION 0F DELAWARE.

MACHINE FOR MAKING AND INSERTING WIRE DEVICES.

Application led January 14, 1924. Serial'uNo. 685,951.

This inventionw relates to machinery for attaching wire handles orhandle like devices to baskets or other receptacles, and moreparticularly to machines for attaching wire handles or handle likedevices to basfkets which, when first made, and before being filled, areopen at both ends thereof, such as certain bushel baskets of this kind,and' vices may be then bent into position to holdl the closure, such asthe bottom of the basket, in place after the basket is'jilled.

Generally' stated, therefore, the object off the invention is, toprovide7 a novel and improved machine for `making and drivin a staplelike or bail shaped device, in a bas et or other receptacle,'to serve asa'handle, or

may be used as handles, or as Pa means for securmg a closure of thebasket 1n place, 1n

any suitable or desired manner, as will hereinafter more fully appear.

It is also an objctto provide certain details,- and features `ofconstruction and combinations pending to increase the generalefficiencyand desirability of a machine for making and inserting bail shapeddevices, for use 'as handles or fastening devioes,f0r otherwise, ofthisparticular form andvchar- To .this and other useful ends, ltheinvention consists in matters hereinafter set forthand claimed and shownin the accompanyingk drawing in which:

Figure l is a side `elevation of a machine for making and lnsertmg bailFshaped or staple ,like wire devices, in the form of handles orhandlelike devices, elfibodyingthe principles of the`invention.

Figure 2 is a front elevationof said machine.

Figure 3 isa perspective of the product made by said machine, or of thebasket'hav ing the bail shaped devices secured' thereto. Figure. 4 is anenlarged detail sectional view showing" the manner in which the bailshaped or handle like device isv inserted i through the rim or hoopportion of the basket, and 1s then bent over, intonthe position shownindotted lines, so that these bail,

vshaped wire devices assume the position shown in Figure 3 when thebasket is removed fro'm the machine.

Figure 5 is an'enlarged side elevation of the upper, portion of saidmachine.

Figure 6 is a view similarto Fio'ure 5, but with cert-ain portionsthereof tb away, and with certain portions Ashown in vertical section,thereby to bring into view the forming and driving means, and the meansfor clinchingthe ends of the bail shaped or handle like wire devicewhich is formed and driven by this machine.

roken Figure 7 is an enlarged front elevation of the upper portion ofthe machine, being in the nature of a vertical section on the l-ine 7 -7in Figure 5.

Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure y7, but showing the] forming anddriving' devices in a lower position, and showing the machine in the actofinsertinglthe bail shaped` or-staple shaped device.

Figure 9 is a detail horizontal section on the line 9-9 in Figure 5.

As thus illustrated, the invention comprises the Vwire comprises,therefore, a vertically re-` ciprocating' staple. former .5, which n isrigid with the cutter bar.6 that carries the knife 7 this knifecooperating with the inner end of the feed tube'8 through which the wireis guided, thereby to'cut off the length of wire as the staple formermoves downward. This staple former is slidingly connected with thestaple driver 9, which latter has a portion 10 a base 1 having anupright pedestal 2 tl1ereon iupon the upper end of which is sup ortedthe ythat slides in the guide grooves 11 of the two prongs of thebifurcated staple former. The staple drive'r 9 yis rigidly connected tothe outer end of the arm 12, which latter is rigidly mounted upon theupper end of the rod 13 which is mounted to reciprocate vertically inthe pedestal 2 and in thevhead 3 previously mentioned. The upper end ofthe staple former has a rod 14I which is adapted to slide up and down inthe guide portion 15 on the arm 12, a compression spring 16 beinginterposed between the guide portion 15 and the shoulder 17 on said rod,whereby this spring is compressed when the lower end of the stapleformer engages the basket, and during thel time that 'the staple driveris movin()f downward to insert the staple like or bail' shaped wiredevice 18 shown in Figure 8 of the drawings. The vwire 4 is fed into thepath of the staple former 4and driver, until the end of the wire strikes'the end of the stop 19, shown in Figures 7 and 8, this length of wirebeing necessary for the bail shaped or handle shaped device to be made.Normally, as. shown, the staple former and driver are locked together bythe latch 2O which is lpivoted on the driver and which engages the upperend of the'staple former at'21 while the former and driver are movingdownward in unison to form the staple like or handle device. The spring22'is adapted to yieldingly hold the latch 20 in operative position, butwhen the cam 23 on the latch strikes the stationary cam 24 on the casingof the mechanism, the latch is then disengaged from the staple former,and swings into the position shown in Figure 8, thereby allowing theydownward movement to cease, and perroceed down` mitting the stapledriver to ward and insert the handle evice through the hoop portion ofthe basket, as shown `in full lines in Figure 4 of the drawings. InFigure 8, it is assumed that the lower end of the staple former 5 isresting on the basket, and that the staple shaped or handle shapeddevice 18 has been inserted. During this operation, the mechanism iswithinl the smaller end of the basket shown in Figure 3, so that theouter surface of the hoop 25 is resting onF the support 26 provided forthis purpose, this support being rigid with the upper portion of thepedestal 2 previously mentioned. This support 26 has a pivoted clinchblock or anvil\27 pivoted at 28 in a re cess 29 formed therein, and alin'k 30 connects the lower end of this clinch block to the bell crank31 which is pivoted at 32 on thestationary body portion of the machine.At the proper time, therefore, after the staple shaped or bail shaped orhandle shaped wire device 18 has been inserted through the basket, thepoints of the staple like 'device are then clinched on the outer surfaceof the hoop 25 by the upward movement of the clinch block 2'( at theproper time. so that the ends of the staple are bent over and toward theedge of the hoop 25, as indicated in dotted lines at 33 in Figure 4, andas shown in full lines in Figure 3 of the drawings. It will be seen thatthe support 26 is preferably beveled at 34 to facilitate the insertionof the edge of the basket, and a stop 35, which is adjustable, issecured to one side of the support. 26 to limit the insertion of thebasketbelow the stapling or handling or bail fastening mechanism.

through which thestaple former anddriver move downward to insert thestaple, or staple like device, and the outer end of this plate 36 isrounded at 40 to bear and rub upon the inner surface of the basketwhenthe plate 36 is moved backward to cause the edge 41 thereof to bend thestaple like device 18 over` and into the position indicated in dottedlines at 42 in Figure 4 of the drawings. Thus, in the embodiment. of theinvention herein shown and described, the points of the staple or bailshaped device are first clinched on the outer surface of the basket, andthen the bail shaped head or outer end portion of the handle like deviceis bent over flatwise upon the inner surface of the basket orreceptacle, so that when several of these devices are attached to thesmaller end of the fr stoconical basket shown in Figure 3, sai deviceswill extend outward in the manner shown. The plate 36 is preferablybeveled at 43 to provide clearance for then inner surface of the basket,inasmuch as this rim or hoop portion of the basketcurves upwardly ateach side of the stapling mechanism, during the operation of making anddriving the bail shaped or staple 'shaped device. Two of the stops 35may beemployed, one at each side of the machine, as shown in Figures 7,8 and 9, if such is desired. v

The mechanism for operating the stapling mechanism, and for actuatingthe bell cranks 31 and 37, comprises a shaft 44 mounted in suitablebearings on the base of the machine, with the end of said shaft providedwith a crank plate 45 connected by a rod 46`with the lo er end of therod 13 previously mentioned. A belt pulley 47 is mounted on said shaft,and a clutch mechanism 48, of any suitable character, is provided andcontrolled by foot lever 49, through the medium of any suitableconnection. When the foot lever is pressed, the clutch is closed, andthe belt driving the pulley 47 will then rotate the shaft 44, and thusactuate the stapling mechanism.' The bell crank 31 is connected4 b a rodto the cam device 51, of any suit*- alile character, mounted onV theshaft 44, whereby this rodA 50 is reciprocated end.- wise in a manner toactuate the bell crank 31, thereby to actuate the link 30 of the clinchblock 27 in the desired manner, as previously explained. A rod 52connects the bell crank 37 with a similar cam device 53 on the shaft 44,whereby this `rod 52 is reciprocated end- 'wise to actuate the bellcrank 37 in the de- 'sired manner, thereby ,to actuate the plate 36 atthe moment when it is necessary to bend the bail shaped wire deviceoutward in the manner previously explained. It will be understood thatthe devices 51 and 53 may be of any suitable or approved form`,.the onlyrequirement being. that they be capable of act-.uating the rods 59 and52A up and down in properly timed relation to the other elements,thereby to perform tthe functions previously described.

' Any suitable known\or yapproved mechanism may be employed for feedingthe wire 4 to'the staple forming or handle forming or bail formingmechanism. As shown, feed rolls 54 as indicated in Figure 2, aresuitably mounted atone side of the machine, on a bracket 55 thewire'being fed between these rolls and when said roll being sorelatively formed that the wire will be fed intermitrtently instead ofcontinuously. At the same time, however, the lower feed roll is drivencontinuouslyr onthe shaft 56, mounted in a' bearing on said bracket,`andby the sprocket 'chain 57 which connects the shaft-to a sprocket on theshaft 44 previously mentioned. Thus the lower feed roll`is rotatedcontinuously, but by reason of thecooperation of this roll, relativelyto the upper roll, in a common and well known manner, .the wire is fedintermittently, and is only caused to move forward after the form-ingand driving mech'- anism has moved upward to the position shown -inFigure 7, for `then the wire is free 'to feed forward witliout hindranceuntil -it strikes the stop 19 previously mentioned.

But the wire feeding mechanism formsV no part of the invent-ion, and maybe of any suitable. or desired character.

, A face plate 58 is preferably applied to.

the casing of the staple forming and driving mechanism, v`and when this`plate lis removed, the mechanism is brought into yiew, as shown inFigures 7 and 8, and maybe removed if such is desirable or necessary.Thus the'staple former 5 cuts off a. length of wire which is'much'longerthan the width of the staple former, but -clearance "is providedr topermit the end portions of this length of wire to be bent downward, andfor thisbendingvoperation an anvil-59 is necessary, or' at leastdesirable, the wire being fed immediately above the shoulder 60 on saidanvil, and the latter having a cam portion 61 which is engaged by theshoulder 62 on the staple former to swing the lower end o f the anvilout of the Way after the staple is formed, so that the portion 10 maythen move downward and insert the staple, the latter sliding at suchtime in the grooves 11 with which the inner edges ofthe prongs or sideportions of the l staple former are provided. The Ianvil 59 is pivotedat 63, it will be seen, so that its lowe'r end swings into and out ofthepath of the staple driverlO, and between lthe prongs of the stapleformer, in a manner which will be readily understood. 'Ho`wever, aspreviously explained, and for some of the broader'purposes of theinvention, the staple forming and driving mechanism may be of anysuitable or approved form, and while that shown and described, includingthe said anvil 59, is

calculated to do the workin a satisfactory manner, taking into accountthe very heavy wire which must be employed for this purpose, it will beunderstood that the plate 36, which latter is desirable for theparticular work to be performed, can be arranged to co,

then be placed into position, on the smallerl end, this'smaller end-being disposed upperg most when the'baket is fined. Then the devices'18which have been inserted can be bent over il'atwise upon the bottoniclosure, thereby to hold this bottom in place. For this reason;

therefore, and for this particular purpose, the wire employed ispreferably of a large caliber, preferablyquite strong and stiff, so

that when bentover 'in this way, the bottom closure willi be securelheld', in position. ,Then when the basket 1s to be opened and unpacked,it is placed 4with its smaller end downward, on the floor or on a table,and the cover for lthe upper or larger end of the basket is thenremoved.

.Obvio,usly,'fhoweve r, the machine shown and described may be employedforinserting staple shaped or bail shaped or handle shaped devices bfvthis 'kind for any suitable or de- `sired'purpose. Devices of this kindlmay be inserted to serve as fastening devices, as

shown and described, or lthey may be inserted to serve as handles,either before 'or after the product is finished, in a basket or otherrecep tacle, yfor any suitable or desired purpose.

In otherwrds, the lmachiie is adapted to make and drive a staple shapedor bail shaped or 'handle shaped Wire device, and this device may, ofcourse, be used for any suitable or desired purpose after being formedand driven or inserted, in a basket or other structure. It will be seen,however, that the machine shownl and described does not fully insert thestaple shaped wire device,

as is usually the case with stapling ma-v chinery, but to the contrary,only partially inserts the staple shaped or bail shaped devices, leavingthe bail shaped head or end thereof upstanding in position to be usedfor any suitable or desiredpurpose. The sharp ends of the staple shapedor handle shaped device are clinched, upon the outer surface of thebasket, but the device is not inserted until the transverse portion orhead thereof lies flatwise upon the inner surface of the basket, for thestaple shaped device is only inserted just far enough to bring the orbail shaped device is partially inserted.

As a matter of further and special improvement, it. will be 'seen thatthe plate 36 is preferably provided with a projection 64, on its edge41, which projection is just wide enough to extend between the Vlegs ofthe staple or bail shaped wire device', lwhereby the legs of the wiredevice` will be supported and caused to move downward in the desiredmanner without buckling or bending, when the device is driven into thebasket' or other commodity. Of course, this projection 64 is shortenough or of such'size that the head of the staple will not be preventedfrom being bent or wiped over by the edge 41 of the plate, when thelatter' is actuated to bend over the uninserted or head portion of thestaple, in the manner previously explained.

Vvhat I claim as my invention is:

1. Ina machine for making andinserting a bail shapedl wire device, thecombination of mechanism for first forming the bail shaped wire device?,and for inserting both legs of said device in any desired material,while the side portionsor two legs-.of the bail shaped device are stillstraight and parallel, automatic instrumentalities for thereafterbending the head of said bail shaped device thereof-to protrude at theouter side of said material, in combination with anvil means to clinchthe points of the bail shaped device by bending them laterally againstthe surface of the material, whereby the protruding points of the stapleshaped device and the head portion thereof are substantially parallelwhen the operation of the machine is completed.

3. A structure as specified in claim 1, in combination with mea-ns toclinch the points of the bail shaped device.

4. Astructure as specified in claim 1, inl combination with means tofeed a length of wire from which to make said bail shaped device, andsaid mechanism comprising aibale former having a cutting device forcutting off the desired length of wire,- the width' of said former beingless than the length of the severed portion of the wire, and said^mechanism comprising an anvil cooperatingwith said bail former tobendthe severed length of wire into bail form, and a driver for engaging thehead of the bail shaped device thus formed to insert vthe pointsthereof/inthe desired material? 5. A structure as specified in claim 1,said instrumentalities comprising a member for j engaging the bailshaped device at one side thereof, and means for actuating'this memkberto bend the wire device over upon the surface of the materiah l 6. Astructure as specified in claim 1, said instrumentalities comprising amember for. engaging the side of said wire device, to

bend the device a bell crank to which said y member is rigidly secured,and means for ac` tuating said bell crank.

7. A structure as specified in claim 1, in combination with a -pivotedanvil for engaging the points of the bail shaped wire device, and' meansfor actuating said pivoted anvil, thereby, to bend both points in thesame direction. t

8. In a machine of the class described, the combination of mechanism forforming and 'inserting both legs of a wire device' having parallelstraight legs, with the straight trans-l verse head portion of said wiredevice some distance from one side of the material in which'thedeviceis'inserted, and with the 115 ends of said `straight parallel legsprojecting at the other side, and means for thereafter bending thepoints of said legs flatwise against the other side ofthe material.

9.,? In a machine of the class described, the combination of means forsupporting a basket in position to have. a wire device insertedoutwardly from inside the basket through the rim portion thereof,Jmechanism for forming said wire device within the basket, means to causethe insertion of the device outwardly as stated, to fix the device inone-side only of the rim, and instrumentalities t cause the operation ofsaid mechanism and means.

10. A struct-ure as specified in claim 9, in

combination with means for clinching the sharp points of said wiredevice upon the outer surface of said rim portion of the basket.

11. A structure as specified in claim 9, in combination withinstrumentalities for bending the head portion of said wire deviceoutward toward the edge of the rim, against the inner si de of the rim,so that the head of said wire device will project a distance beyond saidedge of the rim. I

12. A structure as specified in claim 9, in combination withinstrumentalities for bending the uninserted portion of said wire deviceagainst the inner surface of the rim portion of the basket.

13. A structure as specified in claim 9, said mechanism comprising awire device former having means rigid therewith to cut off a length ofwire, the width of said wire device former being less than the length ofthe severed portion of the wire, a stop for the end of the wire, wherebythe opposite ends of the severed portion of the wire project beyond theopposite sides of the wire device former, an anvil cooperating with saidwire device former to bend the severed portion of wire into wire deviceform, and a driver for engaging the head of the wire device to insertthe points thereof in the material of the basket.

14. A structure as specified in claim 9, in combination with a movablemember disposed between said mechanism and the inner surface of thebasket, and means for actuating said member to cause the edge thereof tobear against the .side of the wire device, thereby to bend the headportion of the wire device over toward the'rim of the basket, so thatthe head of said wire device will extend beyond said edge of the rim.

15. The improved wire forming and driving mechanism, having means toautomatically form the wire, drive it into the work, and thereafter bendit over at the head thereof, means for supporting the work in operativerelation thereto, and power operated instrumentalities to cause the saidoperation of said mechanism, to cause the wire to become a bail shapedattached element with the two legs thereof anchored in the work, withthe transverse portion of the element spaced a distance from the work.

16. A structure as specified in claim 8, said bending 'means comprisinga plate having a projection to extend between the legs of the device, tosupport the same in position for partial insertion.

17. A structure as specified in claim 1, said instrumentalities havingmeans forming a guide for the legs of the bail shaped Wire device,thereby to insure proper insertion of both legs in said material.

18. In a machine for making and inserting' a hail shaped wire device,the combination of means for-partially inserting said device into anydesired material, means forming a guide to engage the inner side of thebail shaped device to insure insertion in the proper manner, and meansfor bending over the head portion of said wire device.

19. In a machine for making and inserting a bail shaped wire device,through the rim portion of a basket, the combination ofinstrumentalities for cutting off a length 'of wire and bending` it intobail shape, means for supporting the basket with the inner side of therim thereof facing the ends ofthe two legs of the bail shaped device,means for relatively moving said device and basket to cause the two legsto be inserted outwardly through the rim portion of the basket, andmeans for causing the outer end portions of said legs to be bent backupon the outer surface of the rim portion of the basket.

20. A structure as specied in claim 19,

comprising means for bending the legs against the inner surface of therim portion of the basket, whereby the bail shaped head portion' of thedevice extends a distance beyond the edge of the basket in a planesubstantially at right angles to the plane of the two leg portions thatextend through the rim portion of the basket.

21. A structure as specified in claim 19. comprising means whereby thebail shaped head portion of the device is bent against the inner surfaceof the rim of the basket after the insertion of the legs through the rimportion of the basket.

22. In a machine of the class described,-

the combination of mechanism for partially inserting a bail-shaped orstaple-shaped wire device having a transverse head and straight legs, inthe desired material, and devices operative to thereafter bend over thehead portion of said device, causing the uininserted leg portions ofsaid device to assume an angle to the inserted leg portions.

23. A structure as specified in claim 22, in-

cluding means for clinching the points of the legs in said material.

24. A structure as specified in claim 22, including instrumentalitiesfor feeding the wire, cutting off the length thereof, and forming thesevered length into said device, preliminary to said Iinsertion thereof.

EDWARD CRAIG.

